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GameRs QUEST 10ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCE
Under the WeatherKeeping the Midway Cool
The State Fair of Texas may take place in the early fall, but in Texas that can still mean soaring temperatures. Explore the different methods the Fair employs to keep fairgoers cool, and determine how efficient these methods are.
Before You Go
ÌIntroduce the following terms: biotic factor and abiotic factor.
ÌDefine abiotic factors such as sunlight, temperature, and humidity.
ÌDiscuss how changes in abiotic factors can change an ecosystem. Ask students
for their examples of how changes in ABIOTIC factors can change the flora and
fauna (BIOTIC factors) in an ecosystem
ÌCreate sling psychrometers in class:
ο Attach two cheap plastic student thermometers back to back with tape.
ο Thread a string or some yarn through the now connected holes at the top.
ο Place something that can be moistened over the entire bulb on one
thermometer.
ÌGo outside and teach students how to use and read the sling psychrometer.
Record the data they find.
During this Gamer Quest, you will:
ÌUse tools of meteorology in various areas of
the Fair and record findings
ÌUse acquired knowledge of abiotic factors to
make suggestions to the Fair for future years.
Learning Standards
ÌEnvironmental science TEKS: 2F, 2G, 3D, 4D, 6C
ÌArt TEKS: Art I: 1A, 2A, 3C
ÌELAR TEKS: E4(1)(A), E4(15)(B)(i),E4(15)(B)(iv),
E4(15)(B)(v)
Source: https://
getmomreadyforthewedding.
files.wordpress.com/2012/03/
sweating.jpg
GameRs QUEST 10ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCE
Under the WeatherKeeping the Midway Cool
GameRs QUEST 10ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCE
Under the WeatherKeeping the Midway Cool
STATE FAIR MAPOptional Materials to Bring
ÌWriting utensil and something to write on
OR
ÌA way to digitally take notes
ÌSling psychrometer made in class
While You’re There
The objective of your visit is to collect abiotic factor and biotic
factor data on the Midway and Midway area.
Ì●SLINGING UP SOME DATA: Use your sling psychrometer to collect
data to use in class.
ο Record the time you are collecting data.
ο Find an area of the Midway where the abiotic factors have been
altered by Fair staff (shade netting, sails, fans, etc.)
�● CAREFULLY use your sling psychrometer for one minute and
record your wet side and dry side in Celsius.
�● Record some observations about the people in that area. How
many are there? Do they seem lively, tired, hot, etc.?
ο Find an area of the Midway with a large tree.
�● CAREFULLY use your sling psychrometer for one minute and
record your wet side and dry side in Celsius.
�● Record some observations about the people in that area. How
many are there? Do they seem lively, tired, hot, etc.?
ο Find an area in the Midway or slightly outside of it in full sun.
�● Record the cloud cover and cloud type (if any)
�● CAREFULLY use your sling psychrometer for one minute and
record your wet side and dry side in Celsius.
�● Record some observations about the people in that area. How
many are there? Do they seem lively, tired, hot, etc.?
Invitation
ÌInvite students to bring the
listed materials and follow the
route, and perform the tasks
below at the State Fair of Texas:
Plan Your Route
ÌMake your way to the center of
the Fairgrounds
ÌExplore the Midway as you
follow the “While You’re There”
instructions on the right!
GameRs QUEST 10ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCE
Under the WeatherKeeping the Midway Cool
ο A “COOLER” DESIGN (ART PORTION): As you’re observing,
consider:
�● Does the Fair map have a list of places to rest and
get cool?
�● In the art portion of your project, you’ll get a
chance to design something! Think about how you
might tackle this…
After the Fair
When you return to class following your State Fair visit,
you will formulate a plan for officials at the State Fair:
ÌYour teacher will provide you with a relative humidity
chart.
ο Use your recordings of your wet temperature and dry
temperature to determine the relative humidity in the
three zones.
ο Record your relative humidity and temperature (in
Celsius) for the three zones on a chart.
Ì●Partner up with three other students.
ο Compare your data and see if there are any large
variances.
ο If there are, come up with hypothesis to explain these
large variances.
ο Describe the differences in how biotic factors (in this
case humans) reacted to the differences in abiotic
factors.
ÌFormulate your plan!
ο Identify your findings and make suggestions for
alterations to the Fair that will bring more fairgoers
or make their current fairgoers happier.
GameRs QUEST 10ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCE
Under the WeatherKeeping the Midway Cool
GameRs QUEST 10ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCE
Under the WeatherKeeping the Midway Cool
ENGLISH COMPONENTAlong with your map of alterations, provide State Fair
officials with an official flyer that can be used to
convince them of why the alterations are necessary.
When designing the flyer, make sure to:
1. Use professional software (i.e. Microsoft
Publisher)
2. Use professional language (avoid slang words,
contractions, informal words and sentence
structure)
3. Include charts and graphs to support the data you
collected at the Fair
4. Provide written explanations of the numerical
data
5. Give logical and concise arguments to persuade
officials to adopt your alterations
ART PORTIONTurn your plan that you created for State Fair
officials into an official design for alterations to
make fairgoers more comfortable!
Ì●Create a large-scale map of the State Fair of Texas,
or use the one that is available on the website
(http://bigtex.com/map/) and have it printed out.
ο If possible, have it printed on a large printer -
at least 11 x 14 inches.
ÌNext, using a large transparency sheet (or tracing
paper if that is not an option), draw your designs
over the areas of the Fair where you have ideas to
create a more comfortable space for fairgoers based
upon your abiotic and biotic data.
ο Make sure that when you lay the transparency
over the map that it lines up directly with the
area that you are working on.
ο Also, if you have printed your map in black and
white, create your overlay designs in color, or,
vice versa.
ο In your presentation, be sure to elaborate on your
creative choices in your design, and why you feel
those would be best suited for the State Fair.
ο Get creative with this! Imagine that you have no
limits with materials or design. Think about what
types of designs would draw you to the Fair.
ο Also, don’t forget, this is about functionality,
so your design should be pleasing to the eye as
well as serve the purpose of providing comfort to
visitors.